Multipurpose bench grinder with left and right grinder assemblies

ABSTRACT

A multipurpose bench grinder ( 1 ) is disclosed that includes a body including a base ( 2 ) and a housing ( 3 ); a motor mounted in the body and having a driving shaft ( 6 ) extending out of both sides of the body; a right grinder assembly ( 4 ) including a first grind wheel ( 45 ) and a parallel second grind wheel ( 47 ) being separate from the first grind wheel ( 45 ) by a predetermined gap; and a left grinder assembly ( 7 ) including a third grind wheel ( 77 ). Each of the grind wheels ( 45, 47, 77 ) is operatively connected to the driving shaft ( 6 ) such that in response to activating the driving shaft ( 6 ) the first and the second grind wheels ( 45, 47 ) together are adapted to sharpen a knife or a sickle placed therebetween or the third grind wheel ( 77 ) is adapted to sharpen a pair of scissors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to bench grinders and more particularly to a multipurpose bench grinder including a left grinder assembly having a single grind wheel for sharpening a pair of scissors, and a right grinder assembly having a pair of closely opposite grind wheels for sharpening a knife or sickle.

2. Description of Related Art

Bench grinders are well known devices. A typical type of bench grinder has a single grind wheel for sharpening a knife.

Another type of bench grinder as disclosed in Taiwanese Utility Model Patent No. M271,657 has left and right grinder assemblies each having a single grind wheel of the same. In other words, it is only a bench grinder capable of sharpening two tools of the same kind (e.g., knives) at the same time.

Still, there have been numerous suggestions in prior patents for bench grinder. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,095 discloses a bench grinder having a series of improvements. Thus, it is desirable to provide a novel multipurpose bench grinder having left and right grinder assemblies for sharpening more than one kind of tool in order to overcome the inadequacies of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a multipurpose bench grinder comprising a body including a base and a housing; a motor mounted in the body and having a driving shaft extending out of both sides of the body; a right grinder assembly including a first grind wheel and a second grind wheel being parallel with the first grind wheel and being separate therefrom by a predetermined gap; and a left grinder assembly including a third grind wheel, wherein each of the grind wheels is operatively connected to the driving shaft such that in response to activating the driving shaft the first and the second grind wheels together are adapted to sharpen a knife or a sickle placed therebetween or the third grind wheel is adapted to sharpen a pair of scissors.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of bench grinder according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of major components of the right grinder assembly;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the right grinder assembly of FIG. 2 assembled with the driving shaft and other components;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of major components of the left grinder assembly;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the left grinder assembly of FIG. 4 assembled with the driving shaft and other components;

FIG. 6 is an environmental view of the bench grinder with a knife being sharpened by the right grinder assembly;

FIG. 7 is an environmental view of the bench grinder with a pair of scissors being sharpened by the left grinder assembly;

FIG. 8 is an environmental view of the bench grinder with a sickle being sharpened by the right grinder assembly by removing the case of the right grinder assembly; and

FIG. 9 is an environmental view of the bench grinder with a knife being sharpened by the millstone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a multipurpose bench grinder 1 in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a base 2, a housing 3 mounted on the base 2, an AC motor (not shown) mounted in the base 2 and the housing 3, the motor having a driving shaft 6 extending out of both sides of the base 2 and the housing 3, a right grinder assembly 4, a left grinder assembly 7, and a millstone 5 mounted on a top of the housing 3. Left and right grinder assemblies 4 and 7 are subjects of the invention and they will be discussed in detail below.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 in conjunction with FIG. 1, the right grinder assembly 4 comprises a cylindrical abutment member 43 including a central, hollow cylinder 431 projecting from the right side, the cylinder 431 having a hexagonal outer surface and a circular inner surface, and an annular groove 432 defined between the cylinder 431 and an annular outer surface of the abutment member 43, a first spring 44, a first grind wheel 45 including a central, hollow cylinder 451 projecting from the left side and a right circular recess 452 having its bottom center in communication with the cylinder 451 (i.e., the first grind wheel 45 is hollow), a ring 46, a second grind wheel 47 including a central, hollow cylinder 471 projecting from the right side and a left circular recess 472 having its bottom center in communication with the cylinder 471 (i.e., the second grind wheel 47 is hollow), a second spring 48, and a cylindrical member 49 including a staged, central, hollow cylinder 491 projecting from the left side, the cylinder 491 having a hexagonal outer surface on the right portion and a circular inner surface, and a left annular groove 492 having its bottom center in communication with the cylinder 491 (i.e., the cylindrical member 49 is hollow).

In assembly, the driving shaft 6 inserts through the above components of the right grinder assembly 4 to be threadedly secured to a fastener (e.g., nut) 8 at its threaded end. As a result, the first spring 44 is compressed between the groove 432 and a hollow, intermediate neck (not numbered) of the first cylinder 45. The second spring 48 is compressed between the groove 492 and a hollow, intermediate neck (not numbered) of the second grind wheel 47. End of the cylinder 431 is fastened in the first grind wheel 45 and end of the cylinder 491 is securely fitted in the cylinder 431. Also, the cylinder 491 is fastened in the neck of the second grind wheel 47. The first grind wheel 45 is in close proximity to the second grind wheel 47. The ring 46 is fastened between the recess 452 of the first cylinder 45 and the recess 472 of the second grind wheel 47. A portion of the cylinder 491 proximate the end thereof is fastened by the ring 46. Therefore, an activation of the bench grinder 1 (i.e., the motor) will cause both the grind wheels 45 and 47 to rotate in a speed the same as the driving shaft 6.

The right grinder assembly 4 further comprises a substantially half cylindrical upper case 41 including two tabs 411 at rear and front bottom edges respectively, and a curved top opening 412 having both ends substantially terminated at the tabs 411, and a substantially half cylindrical lower case 42 including two slots 421 at rear and front top edges respectively, two projections 422 at rear and front top left corners respectively, and a cavity 423 on a left edge. On either side of the base 2 there are provided two rear and front slots 21 respectively and a bottom protrusion 22.

In assembly, the cavity 423 is put on the protrusion 22 and the projections 422 are inserted into the slots 21 for fastening the lower case 42 and the base 2 together. Further, the tabs 411 are inserted into the slots 421 for fastening the upper case 41 and the lower case 42 together. As a result, the right grinder assembly 4 is assembled with the top opening 412 being open to both the grind wheels 45 and 47.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 in conjunction with FIG. 1, the left grinder assembly 7 comprises a cylindrical abutment member 73 including a central, hollow cylinder 731 projecting from the right side, the cylinder 731 having a hexagonal outer surface and a circular inner surface, and an annular groove 732 defined between the cylinder 731 and an annular outer surface of the abutment member 73, a third spring 74, a staged shell 75 including a central, hollow cylinder 751 projecting from the left side, a right circular recess 752 having an outer surface formed as an annular trough 754, and an intermediate, hexagonal hole 753 at a bottom of the recess 752 being in communication with the cylinder 751, a ring 76 having a separate, large, hollow frusto-conical member 761, a third grind wheel 77 including a central, hollow cylinder 771 projecting from the right side and a left circular recess 772 having its bottom center in communication with the cylinder 771 (i.e., the third grind wheel 77 is hollow), a fourth spring 78, and a cylindrical member 79 including a staged, central, hollow cylinder 791 projecting from the left side, the cylinder 791 having a hexagonal outer surface on the right portion and a circular inner surface, and a left annular groove 792 having its bottom center in communication with the cylinder 791 (i.e., the cylindrical member 79 is hollow).

In assembly, the driving shaft 6 inserts through the above components of the left grinder assembly 7 to be threadedly secured to a fastener (e.g., nut) 8 at its threaded end. As a result, the third spring 74 is compressed between the groove 732 and a hollow, intermediate neck (not numbered) of the shell 75. The fourth spring 78 is compressed between the groove 792 and a hollow, intermediate neck (not numbered) of the third grind wheel 77. End of the cylinder 731 is fastened in the shell 75 and end of the cylinder 791 is securely fitted in the cylinder 731. Also, the cylinder 791 is fastened in a hollow, intermediate neck (not numbered) of the third grind wheel 77. The ring 76 is fastened between the recess 772 of the third grind wheel 77 and the recess 752 of the shell 75. A portion of the cylinder 791 proximate the end thereof is fastened by the ring 76. The frusto-conical member 761 is securely put on the trough 754 and is in close proximity to the third grind wheel 77. Therefore, an activation of the bench grinder 1 (i.e., the motor) will cause the third grind wheel 77 to rotate in a speed the same as the driving shaft 6.

The left grinder assembly 7 further comprises a substantially half cylindrical upper case 71 including two tabs 711 at rear and front bottom edges respectively, and a curved top opening 712 having both ends substantially terminated at the tabs 711, and a substantially half cylindrical lower case 72 including two slots 721 at rear and front top edges respectively, two projections 722 at rear and front top right corners respectively, and a cavity 723 on a right edge.

In assembly, the cavity 723 is put on the protrusion 22 and the projections 722 are inserted into the slots 21 for fastening the lower case 72 and the base 2 together. Further, the tabs 711 are inserted into the slots 721 for fastening the upper case 71 and the lower case 72 together. As a result, the left grinder assembly 7 is assembled with the top opening 712 being open to the third grind wheel 77.

Referring to FIG. 6 in conjunction with FIG. 3, a first operation of the invention will be described in detailed below. In response to activating the bench grinder 1, cutting edge of a knife A is placed between the first and the second grind wheels 45 and 47 and is in contact with both for sharpening after inserting into the opening 412.

Referring to FIG. 7 in conjunction with FIG. 5, a second operation of the invention will be described in detailed below. In response to activating the bench grinder 1, cutting edge of a pair of scissors B is in contact with the third grind wheel 77 for sharpening after inserting into the opening 712.

Referring to FIG. 8 in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 3, a third operation of the invention will be described in detailed below. Both the upper and lower cases 41 and 42 are removed. In response to activating the bench grinder 1, cutting edge of a sickle C is placed between the first grind wheel 45 and the second grind wheel 47 and is in contact with both for sharpening.

Referring to FIG. 9 in conjunction with FIG. 1, a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. A millstone 5 is mounted on a top of the housing 3. A user thus can sharpen the knife A using the millstone 5.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims. 

1. (canceled)
 2. A bench grinder (1) comprising: a body including a base (2) and a housing (3): a motor mounted in the body and having a driving shaft (6) extending out of both sides of the body: a right grinder assembly (4) including a first grind wheel (45) and a parallel second arind wheel (47) being separate from the first grind wheel (45) by a predetermined gap, wherein the first grind wheel (45) is hollow and includes a left cylinder (451) and a right circular recess (452), the second grind wheel (47) is hollow and includes a right cylinder (471) and a left circular recess (472), and the right grinder assembly (4) further comprises: a hollow, cylindrical abutment member (43) including a right cylinder (431) and an annular groove (432) defined between the cylinder (431) and an outer surface of the abutment member (43) wherein the cylinder (431) is fastened in the cylinder (451); a first spring (44) anchored between the groove (432) and a bottom of the cylinder (451); a hollow, cylindrical member (49) including a staged, left cylinder (491) and a left annular groove (492) defined between the cylinder (491) and an outer surface of the cylindrical member (49) wherein an end of the cylinder (491) is fastened in the cylinder (451); a second spring (48) anchored between the groove (492) and a bottom of the cylinder (471); a ring (46) fastened between the recesses (452, 472) with a portion of the cylinder (491) proximate its end being fastened by the ring (46); a fastener (8) releasably secured to an end of the driving shaft (6) securely inserted Through the abutment member (43) and the cylindrical member (49); a lower case (42) releasably secured to the body; and an upper case (41) releasably secured to the lower case (42) for housing the right grinder assembly (4), the upper case (41) including a curved top opening (412) being open to the first and the second grind wheels (45, 47); and a left grinder assembly (7) including a third grind wheel (77). wherein each of the grind wheels (45, 47, 77) is operatively connected to the driving shaft (6) such that in response to activating the driving shaft (6) the first and the second grind wheels (45, 47) together are adapted to sharpen a knife or a sickle olaced therebetween or the third grind wheel (77) is adanted to sharpen a pair of scissors.
 3. A bench grinder (1) comprising: a body including a base (2) and a housing (3) a motor mounted in the body and having a driving shaft (6) extending out of both sides of the body: a right grinder assembly (4) including a first grind wheel (45) and a parallel second grind wheel (47) being separate from the first grind wheel (45) by a predetermined gap; and a left grinder assembly (7) including a third grind wheel (77), wherein the third grind wheel (77) is hollow arid includes a right cylinder (771) and a left circular recess (772), and the left grinder assembly (7) further comprises: a cylindrical abutment member (73) including a right cylinder (731) and an annular groove (732) defined between the cylinder (731) and an outer surface of the abutment member (73); a stagedshell (75) including a left cylinder (751), a right circular recess (752), and an annular trough (754) on an outer surface of the recess (752) wherein the cylinder (731) is fastened in the cylinder (751); a third spring (74) anchored between the groove (732) and a bottom of the cylinder (751); a ring (76) fastened between the recesses (772, 752) with a portion of the cylinder (791) proximate its end being fastened by the ring (76); a hollow frusto-conical member (761) securely put on the trough (754) and being proximate the third grind wheel (77): a hollow, cylindrical member (79) including a staged, left cylinder (791) and a left annular groove (792) defined between the cylinder (791) and an outer surface of the cylindrical member (79) wherein an end of the cylinder (791) is fastened in the cylinder (751) and the cylinder (791) is fastened in the third grind wheel (77); a fourth spring (78) anchored between the groove (792) and a bottom of the cylinder (771); a fastener (8) releasably secured to an end of the driving shaft (6) securely Inserted through the abutment member (73) and the cylindrical member (79); a lower case (72) releasably secured to the body; and an upper case (71) releasably secured to the lower case (72) for housing the left grinder assembly (7), the upper case (71) including a curved top opening (712) being open to the third grind wheel (7); wherein each of the grind wheels (45, 47, 77) is operatively connected to the driving shaft (6) such that in response to activating the driving shaft (6) the first and the second grind wheels (45, 47) together are adapted to sharpen a knife or a sickle placed therebetween or the third grind wheel (77) is adapted to sharpen a pair of scissors. 